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Ten American Marines arrived in Vladivostok recently to guard a U.S. Consulate that is growing because of broader ties between the United States and the Russian Far East.

The Marines, who showed up Jan. 17, are part of a special contingent that protects U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, and their presence here suggests that “this is really, truly becoming a normal consulate,” said Mary Speer, branch public affairs officer.

American interests in the Far East, and Russian ties to America, have expanded since the Russian government ended Vladivostok’s isolation and opened the city to the outside world in 1992. Such ties have been fueled by an agreement between Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin and U.S. Vice President Gore calling for the development of regions outside Moscow and St. Petersburg.

“We have too much to do here and too little staff,” Speer said, “and that really is the measure of the volume of interest between our two countries.”

The Marines unit comprises a gunnery sergeant and nine subordinates, and they are staying in a section of the Vlad Inn refurbished into a Marine House — a homelike environment with a kitchen and recreational facilities. Some other consulate employees live at the motel, but the Marines won’t be working as bodyguards, Speer said.

“They can only operate on American soil, which means even if there was trouble in the neighborhood, they couldn’t intervene,” Speer said.

Consul General Jane Miller Floyd said the consulate also relies on Russian guards who are cleared to work in the building. And state police provide protection out in front, as they do at all consulates and major government offices such as the Krai Administration Building.

The arrival of the U.S. military seemed to draw little notice. The local Communist Party has demonstrated outside the American consulate in the past, but the presence of Marines left party leaders at a loss for words.

Asked for his reaction, spokesman Alexander Reznichenko said, “It’s very difficult to answer this question because there are so many things that puzzle us now. For instance, in the Japanese Consulate, there are Russian police guarding the building.”

The presence of U.S. Marines, which for decades would have been unimaginable in the home port of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, also stirred little emotion among navy brass.

“Haven’t you ever been to Moscow?” said fleet spokesman Victor Ryzhkov.” Don’t you know that this is the usual pratice in embassies? The fleet has no emotion about the matter.”

American Navy personnel who have visited Vladivostok in the past have found a warm welcome. In visits last summer and in 1996, sailors were swarmed by flirtatious girls, kids seeking autographs, and families wanting their pictures taken with a sailor.

The Marines already seem to be enjoying Vladivostok, Speer said.

“When they came there, they were really psyched, because they’d heard good things about it,” Speer said. “They’re starting to get out around town and take part in sports. Americans are always excited about seeing the real Russia.”

Nonna Chernyakova and Nick Wadhams also contributed to this story.